Roots in Arabic: Maltese descends from Arabic dialects spoken on the island during the Arab rule from 831 to 1091 AD. It specifically originates from the Arabic spoken in North Africa.
Romance Influences: Over the centuries, especially during the Sicilian and later the Italian influences, Maltese absorbed numerous Italian and Sicilian words. Today, about 40% of its vocabulary is derived from Romance languages.
Latin Alphabet: Unlike many Semitic languages that utilize non-Latin scripts, Maltese is written in a Latin-based alphabet, making it accessible to a wider audience.
2. Linguistic Uniqueness
The Maltese language stands out for various reasons: